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Crazy Problem w/ Fast Track USB

B

Brass Nut

Dec 31, 2006
206
2
SoCo Rhode Island USA
#1
Easy now, 'cause this is all virgin ground for me.
Trying to play thru / record with PC and Win EXP system. Decided to try Fast Track USB.
By going in directly thru Mic and to Audacity the lag was a killer. (but it worked)
Installed Fast Track, software, and the Sessions program (many, many times in diff ways). The simple hook ups are Bass guitar - USB module (set at guitar/mono using the 1/4"jack) then to PC with USB cable.
Everything *looks* to be working. All the lights flicker, level indicators move, and everything seems just fine.
But NO SOUND! I've tried what I think is all available line-in combos, maxed all Volume (program & PC) that I found, tries settings of all sorts and still nothing. But the lights flash and whistles appear to be blowing good.
I find it hard to think the Fast Track is malfunctioning. I think it's me(?) or the system(?). I'm really loss on this!
All my basses are Passive. Could I maybe need a pre-amp of sorts?
Is the sound card possibly not supportive?
I've run out of experiments and need new ideas as to what the heck I'm doing wrong!
HELP :bawl:
ANYONE :(
PLEASE!:help:
 
#2
I think you are going to need to use a pre-amp of some sort with passive pickups. My wife bought me a turntable and one of these for Christmas and I had the same problem trying to load vinyl to the pc. I found out by researching that I would need to use a preamp to boost the signal from the turntable.
With that done it works. Hope this helps.
 
#3
i use the fast track usb with a mac (ibook G4) and garageband. when i got the fast track all i had to do was plug in and play. no drivers or any other software necessary. thats the beauty of macs. also with my setup ther is very little lacency. but anyways, i did have to go into both garagband's preferences and the computer's preferences folders and select the fast track for both audio input and audio output before i could hear anything. also, there is a blend knob on the front of the fast track that controls whether you are hearing the sound from the bass coming into the unit, coming back into the unit from the computer, or a mix of both. i find its easier to record hearing just the sound coming in, so you don't get thrown off by hearing any latency that may be present. make sure you mess with this knob some. and lastly, the singal from the 1/4 inch guitar/bass jack is small and the input gain knob doesn't affect this signal. why they did this is beyond me. the unit functions as a mic pre, why not a pre for instruments too? so it does help to use a di or pre. and one other weird thing, if you use a di or pre, you have to use the mic (xlr) input. if you go from the di/pre to the 1/4 inch guitar jack, you'll be dealing with the same small signal. the way this unit is set up, it's almost like it's from the stone age, but it is one of the cheapest interfaces out there and actually sounds/works great once you learn how to use it. sorry for the long post.
 
#5
THANK YOU BOTH!!!! :hyper:
I've the Fast Track pkg'd for return out of frustration.
Okay, other than going and getting my head for use as a pre-amp (?), I wonder if the Digiteck Bass Squeeze Compressor will boost the signal to effectivly act the same?
I'll try it all. Thanks for the input (pun intended). Really IS appreciated right now. :hyper:
I'll let you know how I make out.
BN
 
#7
Oh,,,,, duh.
I can't get the "demos" to produce sound either.
I remembered after trying it again. :crying:
I think there is something not letting the thing connect to the speakers / soundcard/ or something.
again, looking at the program running "Demo" on "Play" all the lights flash, modulators are modulating,,,,,, but no noise.

When I go to Control Panel,,,, Sound Audio Device Properties,,,,
The Volume Tab indicates;
"Fast Track out 1/2", the area is grey,,, "Device volume" is indicated as off/low,,, but nothing is highlighted nor able to adjust. (this seems incorrect, but I can't seem to get around it)
Speakers are same way.
Both appear to be not connected or in use for some reason and may be the problem(?).
Any ideas on this?
Again,,,, I really want to get this to work,,, I'm just not smart enough to figure out what needs to be done.
HELP! :help: :(
 
#8
are you trying to listen through the fast track with headphones? thats the way to do it. just make sure you have the blend knob towards playback. as far as your computer not letting the device connect to what it needs to connect to, i cant help you there since i'm on a mac. plug and play! i remember a website where some people reviewed this thing a while back and there was lengthy discussion about problems like this, i'll see if i can find it and get back to you.
 
#9
Well I'll be,,,
Yup, the headphones work. Playing Demos and Bass both produce sounds through the headphones. Nothing in the volume dept. But there are definately sounds.
Still, I need them coming out of the speakers.
Now I'm almost certain there is a problem in the computer's program. That's a step in the right direction I guess.
Still open to ideas on what to do.
Anyone?
 
#10
couldn't find that info i was looking for, but i know there are websites out there for home recording that should be able to help you out. i frequent macjams.com myself but that probably wont help you. try looking for reviews of the product, they sometimes have links to sites like this. personally when recording on a computer i always use headphones, you can hear everything better, but to each his own i guess.
 
#11
I appreciate what you're saying Ed.
And for the actual recording I'd probably use the headphones too. But for playback, mixing, adding tracks etc., I'd be wanting to use the speakers on the pc (not stock).
Well, anyways, Can't count the amount of time I've spent on this over the past 2 weeks.
Repackaged and going back as unusable this afternoon.
 

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